In Wake Of Scandal, Ga Discusses Ethics

January 12, 2003|By HUGH LESSIG Daily Press

RICHMOND — In a General Assembly session beset with budget problems, lawmakers will spend part of their time sorting through the fallout of a sex scandal.

Lawmakers are pushing to better define General Assembly ethics and conduct in the wake of last year's resignation of former House Speaker S. Vance Wilkins Jr. The proposals come from opposite sides of the political spectrum.

Wilkins was chased from office after admitting he paid a woman at least $100,000 to settle allegations of sexual misconduct.

It was a painful and bitter episode for House Republicans in particular and the General Assembly in general. Afterward, a number of female lobbyists said unwelcome advances and off-color jokes have been part of the culture at the State Capitol for years.

Two Democrats are carrying legislation for Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine that calls for a sexual-harassment policy for members of the General Assembly.

A conservative Republican, Del. Robert G. Marshall, is pushing for rules changes in the House of Delegates. One establishes a formal procedure to file complaints against House members. The other sets up a code of conduct for them to follow. An alternative to Marshall's proposal combining his two ideas should be introduced early this week, possibly Monday, a source said.

Regardless of the details, the General Assembly should face the issues, two top Republicans said Friday. House Speaker William J. Howell said he was troubled by comments that suggested male lawmakers have overstepped their bounds with lobbyists and others.

"There probably did need to be some way to deal with those issues," said Howell, R-Stafford. "I'm looking forward to looking at the different proposals that have been put in. I hope we can come up with something that will benefit everybody."

His one concern: No one should be able to smear a lawmaker's reputation with an unfounded charge. "So there's a balance there," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Walter A. Stosch said companies that file with the Securities and Exchange Commission must adopt a code of conduct.

"The purpose is not to suggest that anything is wrong with that institution," said Stosch, R-Henrico, "but to clearly lay out and communicate to the public that this organization is dedicated to the highest code of ethics."

The Wilkins scandal, which began with a report in The Washington Post describing the settlement, fell to the House Republican Caucus. Amid intense media scrutiny, the caucus convened behind closed doors to sort through the matter. Wilkins failed to convince his colleagues that he deserved to stay.

Marshall said the House needs a formal investigative procedure, rather than caucus meetings. His idea would require complaints to come before the House Privileges and Elections Committee.

"We had no institutional way of dealing with this," Marshall said.

Del. Viola O. Baskerville, D-Richmond, is sponsoring the House version of the sexual-harassment bill. She said she is contemplating changes to the text, but has not yet finalized them.

* Last year House Speaker S. Vance Wilkins Jr. resigned from his position after admitting he paid a woman at least $100,000 to settle allegations of sexual misconduct.

* In the wake of the scandal, legislators are discussing codes of conduct and sexual harassment policies.

Hugh Lessig can be reached at (804) 225-7345 or by e-mail at hlessig@dailypress.com